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Stoke floor Manchester United to leave Van Gaal on the brink

Bojan: Leaves United on the deck after the opener

Manchester United lost a fourth consecutive match as Stoke earned a 2-0 victory at the Britannia Stadium to heap further pressure on Louis van Gaal.

Bojan Krkic took advantage of a terrible error by Memphis Depay to put Stoke ahead and Marko Arnautovic scored a 25-yard screamer as Van Gaal ‘s position came under even more scrutiny after going seven games without a win.

Do not be fooled by the 2-0 scoreline. This was a comprehensive win for Stoke, one that caused glee among the home supporters who branded United “boring” throughout.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” the home fans chanted when Arnautovic drove his fierce shot into the top corner and one Stoke fan dressed as a cross between the Grim Reaper and Jose Mourinho waved an oversized P45 in Van Gaal’s direction.

With Mourinho on the market, and United looking like they have forgotten how to win – and play attractive football – Van Gaal’s position is looking more precarious than ever.

The Dutchman, who dropped Wayne Rooney from his team for the first time, demanded an apology from the media for stories suggesting he would be replaced by Mourinho on Wednesday, but it is the 2,557 United fans who travelled to the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day who deserve an apology for this latest sorry performance.

It was clear from the first whistle that Stoke had the hunger, desire and confidence United lacked.

There was a moment of panic when Jack Butland miscontrolled Arnautovic’s poor back-pass while Anthony Martial raced at the Stoke goalkeeper, but the hosts cleared.

That was the first and last sniff of goal United would have in the first period.

Daley Blind and Ashley Young had no answer to the trickery and pace of Xherdan Shaqiri and Arnautovic.

Blind, still dizzy from taking a ball to the nose from Geoff Cameron, was turned inside out by Shaqiri, who was only stopped by an Ander Herrera foul. The Spaniard was doing little to justify his place in the starting XI and gave the ball away twice in the opening 15 minutes.

When United kept possession, they did little with it. The Stoke supporters chanted “boring, boring, boring” every time United had the ball – and they were right. The visitors were woefully short of ideas.

When Stoke took the lead it came as no surprise. That it came about because of an embarrassing gaffe from a United player came as no shock either.

Depay, a £25million player who scored 22 league goals for PSV Eindhoven last year, tried – and failed – to head a simple ball back to David de Gea, Glen Johnson stole in and squared to Bojan, who tapped in.

The manner of Stoke’s second goal was just as embarrassing for United. Ashley Young flung his right hand up in the air to block Arnautovic’s cross. Kevin Friend awarded a free-kick, which Bojan took. His shot cannoned off the wall and fell to Arnautovic, who hit the fiercest of drives into the top corner.

Van Gaal looked on despondently. His mood would have darkened further had Arnautovic scored another when through on goal moments later but luckily for United, the Austrian shot wide.

Van Gaal brought Rooney on at half-time and the captain added energy and fight – he caught Philipp Wollscheid in the face with his forearm while jumping for the ball – but little quality.

Stoke, a club who just a few years ago were effectively branded a rugby team by Arsene Wenger, were still by far the better side. The Potters were toying with United.

When the ball went out of play for a Stoke throw, Mark Hughes demanded it be returned quickly. He did not want to settle for 2-0. He wanted to inflict a real hammering on his old employers.

There was a brief glimmer of hope for Van Gaal when Rooney squared for Marouane Fellaini, but the Belgian scuffed his shot and Butland saved. There was no way back for the visitors.